The move for a more inclusive democracy may have received a boost, as the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and the Centre for Ability, Rehabilitation and Empowerment (CARE NG) have unveiled three groundbreaking reports highlighting the systemic exclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) from politics.
Speaking at the public presentation of the reports, WFD Country Director, Adebowale Olorunmola, emphasised that while Nigeria has made progress in recognising disability rights, enforcement of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 remains inconsistent and ineffective.
“The reality is that implementation has been slow, and political parties – key players in our democracy – have failed to create truly inclusive environments,” he stated.
The reports -Minimum Standards for Inclusion of PWDs in Political Parties, PAGE Analysis of the Disability Act, and Accessibility Audit Research – reveal significant barriers preventing PWDs from participating fully in Nigeria’s political space.
The PAGE Analysis Report showed that while some states have domesticated and gazetted the Disability Act, many have yet to take action. The absence of a functional Disability Commission in several states, it noted, further hampers enforcement and accountability.
The Accessibility Audit Research Report presented alarming statistics, with only 22.4 per cent of political party offices having accessible ramps, a mere 10.2 per cent featuring tactile signage, 55.1 per cent of party websites and social media platforms remaining inaccessible to PWDs and
80 per cent of PWD candidates report facing discrimination during electoral campaigns.
“These numbers are unacceptable in a democracy that claims to uphold equal participation,” Olorunmola asserted.
“PWDs continue to face systemic barriers that render them invisible in political spaces,” he added.The Minimum Standards Report outlined 14 essential guidelines for political parties to adopt to foster inclusivity.
They include conducting accessibility audits for political party offices, ensuring sign language interpreters at political events, implementing quotas to increase PWD representation in party leadership, and creating accessible digital platforms for engagement.
With backing from the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the House of Representatives Committee on Disability, and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), WFD and CARE NG are calling for the immediate adoption of these standards.
Also speaking, Founder and Chief Responsibility Officer of CARE NG, Dr. Chike Okogwu, stressed the need for urgent action, noting: “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the rights of Persons with Disabilities are respected and protected.”
While unveiling the Nigerian Open Political Party (NOPP) Project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at reshaping the country’s political landscape to be more inclusive for PWDs, Okogwu highlighted critical accessibility gaps and called for full implementation of the Disability Act.
The project’s findings, detailed in three key reports, include the following: Accessibility Audit of Political Party Offices in Nigeria – A comprehensive review of physical and systemic barriers preventing PWDs from active political participation.
PAGE (Passed, Assented, Gazetted, and Executed) Analysis of the Disability Act – an evaluation of the Act’s enforcement, identifying progress and areas needing improvement.
Minimum Standards for PWD Participation in Politics – Clear benchmarks designed to ensure equitable representation of PWDs in governance. The NOPP Project serves as a rallying cry for policymakers, political parties, and stakeholders to dismantle barriers and create a truly inclusive democracy for all Nigerians.